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Humanoid robot artist Ai-Da made history in early November when a buyer paid $1.08 million for its portrait of renowned mathematician Alan Turing at a Sotheby’s auction. The groundbreaking sale marks the highest price ever paid for a work by a robot artist, challenging perceptions of artificial intelligence in the art world. The painting, “AI God: Portrait of Alan Turing,” was expected to fetch between $120,000 and $180,000 but surpassed all estimates, attracting 27 bids before an anonymous buyer claimed it.
Aidan Meller and a team of engineers created the Ai-Da robot, named after mathematician Ada Lovelace. Ai-Da uses generative AI tools and a robotic arm to produce art and has even participated in interviews, discussing her work and inspirations.
Ai-Da Robot Art: How Does She Create It?
Ai-Da’s creative process involves collaboration with her human team. For the Turing portrait, the team provided her with detailed instructions and data, allowing her to digitally sketch and refine the image before her robot arm took over to paint it. While the artificial intelligence technology behind the robot is sophisticated, its actual creative process involved the following steps:
- Concept Selection: Ai-Da robot chose the subject after discussing the concept of “AI for good” with her creators.
- Photo Reference: The team showed the Ai-Da robot artist a photograph of Turing as a baseline for the work.
- Detailed Sketching Process: The robot used cameras and AI algorithms to sketch and refine multiple paintings of his face.
- Creative Compilation: Ai-Da combined three different sketches, incorporating visual elements from Turing’s work, such as the Bombe machine used to crack the Enigma code during World War II.
Despite her robotic nature—and the high price for AI art—Ai-Da’s art reflects human influences, drawing from the styles of artists like Picasso and Edvard Munch. While some critics question whether Ai-Da is a true “artist,” the sale and growing influence speak for themselves, underscoring the increasing role of AI in contemporary art.
The Future of AI Art
The Ai-Da robot’s art sale is a testament to the growing acceptance of AI-generated art. The sale follows a surge in AI art exhibitions and sales, with AI-powered creations becoming a mainstay in galleries and auction houses. With the team planning further updates to improve Ai-Da’s capabilities, the robot is poised to continue blurring the lines between technology and creativity. The million-dollar payday proves the intersection of art offers new possibilities for both artists and collectors.